Contributed by: RenaissanceRenaissance(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on December 9th 2003Somewhere between "Black Sails in the Sunset" and "The Art of Drowning," AFI dropped a little E.P. that would bring new "things" (for lack of a better word) to the world that is A Fire Inside. As a somewhat weak example, the images on the cover by Alan Forbes will forever be stenciled on notebooks .

Somewhere between "Black Sails in the Sunset" and "The Art of Drowning," AFI dropped a little E.P. that would bring new "things" (for lack of a better word) to the world that is A Fire Inside. As a somewhat weak example, the images on the cover by Alan Forbes will forever be stenciled on notebooks and tattooed on the bodies of fans everywhere. You can't visit anything AFI related these days without catching at least one pumpkin, scarecrow, or cat. But, what was more important were the four songs featured on this E.P. that went down in AFI history. (Well, some of them anyway.)

The E.P. begins with the fan favorite, "Fall Children." An eerie guitar melody opens the song, and for nearly thirty seconds the listener will think this is a slower song, based more on spookiness than that speed attack that AFI loved to throw at us for so long. Well, actually, considering the fact that it is AFI, you won't think that. But, you won't be disappointed by the sudden change in tempo. "Fall Children" hits you fast and hard as Davey screams his verses and the band does their regular chanting. Then comes our infamous chorus consisting of the line, "This day so hallowed, from here to forever its will I will follow." Later on the song slows down once more for some really cool, and really melodic chanting. This part seems to set a more meaningful tone to the song. But, not to be outdone by itself, it soon picks up its pace again and finishes with the quiet and calm sound of a music box.

"Halloween," a song originally done by The Misfits, is next in line. It's a good cover, obviously, but this is the song that takes the E.P. below that "perfect" level that we were hoping for. A one and a half minute ending of creepy sounds is way too long. It was cool to start with, but even after thirty seconds of the noises, I was begging for "Halloween" to end so I could move on with the disc. It's really not a bad song at all; it just doesn't live up to the other tracks.

The third out of the four songs is "The Boy Who Destroyed the World," which, while not as good as "Fall Children," is definitely better than "Halloween." It moves at nearly the same speed as "Fall Children," but still manages to sound like its own song, and a very good song at that.

Lastly, we have the legendary "Totalimmortal." This track takes a break from the speed of the other songs, and although the change was not really required, the final product is one of the best AFI songs you will ever hear. It's catchy, but no so catchy that mainstream fans would "ruin it" by liking the song. It's dark, but not so dark that it will scare you away. Even if you don't care for the other songs on the E.P., you will most likely really dig this one. Catch my drift?

Overall, despite being only four songs long, this could be one of the best releases you will ever hear. Even the tiniest of downsides are not enough to keep you from really enjoying this. You won't even mind that it's so short.

Well they had credibility then. And some jackoff on a website that suddenly cant get over the fact that hes attracted to a man fronting a pop rock band cant change that. They were hardcore then. They were awesome then. Enough said.

Anonymous (December 13, 2003)

it made sense.. i was just criticizing the grammer... it mightve been better saying..

afi is to hardcore what brandon cruz was to the dead kennedys

Anonymous (December 13, 2003)

Brandon Cruz fronted the "new" Dead Kennedeys in much the same light that some other assclown is trying to sing Danzig's part in the misfits. AFI is not hardcore at all, and has no credibility (in that scene at least, if at all) much like the Cruz has NO credibility as a member of DK. So the comment pretty much is designed to rip on both the "new" DK's and AFI as a hardcore band.

All you people that call music "metal", the metal scene doesn't want those bands either!It's an insult to Megadth, Slayer, Iron Maiden and Sabbath to group those bands into the metal category! Metal today is bands like Children of Bodom, In Flames, or the Haunted!

Anonymous (December 12, 2003)

Uhhh, incase you didn't know, Halloween was supposed to be the last track. That's why it had the long ending. Just thought I'd let you know... FOR THE 500TH FUCKING TIME !!!

Everytime I die and hopesfall are not hardcore. They are new school hardcore...aka METAL. Fucking idiots. All the shit you call hardcore is METAL METAL METAL. Its metal with hardcore fucking breakdowns, its the same as this emo with screaming bullshit. Just cuz you take the most obvious part of one genre and paste it onto another doesnt make it a new fucking genre.

And for the bizzillionth time after proud of ya, and before art of dorunding, AFI WAS A MELODIC HARDCORE BAND. IF YOU CANNOT COMPREHEND THIS YOU ARE EITHER A FUCKING IDIOT OF JUST A IGNORANT ASSHOLE. PLEASE DIE.

God i hate stupid people...

Anonymous (December 12, 2003)

I thought this was gonna be said already but....Halloween was meant to be the last track. That's why it has the ending as it does.

AFI are alright, old stuff are good, new stuff suck. Simple as that.

Anonymous (December 12, 2003)

AFI never meant "asking for it." That was the name of their merchandise order form you tard. Asking for it, as in asking for shirts, stickers, etc.... AFI is a good band. Punk or not. Hardcore or not. Remember when hardcore was.....whatever. Remember when you were a poser in 9th grade and wore Nirvana and Silverchair shirts to class? Are you hardcore? Go away.

Anonymous (December 12, 2003)

"AFI is to hardcore as Brandon cruz is to dead kennedys."

is it me or does this not make sense?

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

"Oh, and since I'm posting a comment on punknews.org:
"this writter is a fag. fuck him and fuck his opinions. i ussed to like them but now they fuckin suck now and theyre shitty pop punk you should listen to some Vice Squad if you want to hear REAL not sell out punk. fuck you.""

Uhhhh yeah. You know all the old schoolers that carouse this site...

-BSD

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

I liked this review because he didn't take it for granted that everyone knows everything about the band. I never really got into AFI but I'd be willing to give them a shot if I didn't feel like I was trying to gain access to the fucking Freemasons when I read a review of them. The same applies for a lot of other reviews on this site, it's all a game of catchup for everyone who doesn't know every boring detail about a band.

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

he reviewer below me is an idiot

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

Man........I can't believe that no one mentioned the first record, "Very Proud of Ya". That one is definitely "HARDCORE PUNK ROCK" If you disagree, then you don't know anything about Punk Rock. When they came to DC w/ Sick of it all about 4 years ago, the house went fuckin' nuts everytime a song off of that LP was played. I guess it's an East Bay/East Coast thing. I dunno know.
Now granted, their new shit sucks, but the first album is "Hardcore Punk Rock" whether you like it or not.
Nuff said.

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

I don't mind reading new reviews of old records, provided that the review is well-written. This review is not. Re-evaluating previous releases by any band, once they've released new material, is always enlightening. However, this review shows no insight and no creativity. If "Renaissance" was in eighth grade, I could forgive the writing. Wait... I couldn't, because one should learn to write well before posting it for the world to see.

Oh, and since I'm posting a comment on punknews.org:
"this writter is a fag. fuck him and fuck his opinions. i ussed to like them but now they fuckin suck now and theyre shitty pop punk you should listen to some Vice Squad if you want to hear REAL not sell out punk. fuck you."

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

Heh nah, AFI is def not hardcore. Hardcore is Every Time I Die and Hopesfall. AFI is like skate punk with goth lyrics

Fuck you to the guy below. I dont rationalize with people who dont use reason, so a simple fuck you should suffice.

Anonymous (December 11, 2003)

I've heard almost everything this weak band has done and can safely say there is NOTHING hardcore about AFI. They are pop punk to the max and have nothing in common with HC. Pop-punk chord progressions, WEAK whiny vocals, cheesy drums...yeah its pop-punk alright.

AFI is to hardcore as Brandon cruz is to dead kennedys.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

Terrible review

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

Halloween has the extra stuff at the end because it was sopposed to be the last song on the cd...the tracklisting somehow got messed up.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

"its better than that emo pop shit they put out back in early 90s"

this is a joke, right?

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

***not talking about it this way...*
sorry for the confusion.
Yours truly,
Janelle

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

I think the reason the creepy Halloween sounds go on so long was so that they could make the EP exactly 13 minutes long. Or at least that seems more plausible than them adjusting song lengths to fit it in.

Fall Children is amazing. And the Offspring cover of Total Immortal is quite good, although the passion of Davey's voice is lacking.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

i know you're talking about it this way...but on a serial killer level, son of sam is not my cup of tea. my personal favourite is ted bundy.
-Janelle
though that john wayne gacey...ha he was a riot.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

I'm from Mexico, I like AFI so much I was in their gig. this Album All Allows Ep is very cool They did a good cover from the Misfits. Respect for Davey, Adam and Jade me by Joe

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

Does anyone remember Son of Sam? Man, that was shit.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

mommy?...can i go out and...kill tonight!

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

Davey 'woahs' too much, jade picks slides to much, and Hunter sings like a chick in his awsome side project( Hunter Revenge, check em out, good laugh ) But this ablum isnt half bad, its better than that emo pop shit they put out back in early 90s

-god

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

I don't like having to pay x amount of money if it's really short (unless x is five bucks, which it wasn't), but I loved it nonetheless.

I guess I'm one of the only ones who loved The Art of Drowning. I thought that was their peak. STS was good, but Black Sails definately gets the prestigious number two slot.

http://ys.michaelkdupin.com

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

Mommy certainlly let Davey dress up in her make up and clothes.

-BSD

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

AFI isn't quite dead yet, but they could be if the STS followup sucks.

I must be in the minority of people who found Sing the Sorrow a decent evolution, but now that its out of their system, go back to the stuff we all love.

Davey is getting dangerously close to being another "flavor of the week" singer.

AFI was hardcore punk on both this and blacksails, as well as Shut you mouth and open your eyes.

The art of drounding is where things started to go wrong.

All this "they want to be the misfits" bullshit needs to stop. he sings similar, and used to dress simlar. They stopped trying to be the misfits a long time ago. Your just too busy trying to grasp for insults to realize it.

Please shut the fuck up.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

remember when AFI meant "Asking For It". ah, thoe were the days.

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

offspring covered them you dumbass

Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

"I got this ep for free as a promo and it was worth every penny!"

That was one of the stupidest things I ever heard.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

"AFI is hardcore, but they're hardcore punk, not hardcore suck like many of the shit "Hardcore" bands that come along"

Hardcore punk? Um, no. Try listening to an Aus-Rotten Record or something.

actually it pissed me off that the ep was so short. but it is good. black sails in the sunset is still my favorite.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

have to agree that covering "halloween" by the misfits was indeed the low point of this record, but for different reasons. Do you seriously think that ANYTHING this band has put out can even touch the Misfits? AFI is a parody of a punk band, they don't have the balls or attitude to ever come close to the misfits. I'd like to see Glen get his hands on these panty-waists and choke them to death for stealing his gimmick. Ultra-super-mega-weak!

Danzig likes the band and respects Davey.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

Davey's side project is supposed to very electronica-based, not pop-. Sorry GV

yeah dude, and the transplants were supposted to be electronica with a punk rock dash.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

I have to agree that covering "halloween" by the misfits was indeed the low point of this record, but for different reasons. Do you seriously think that ANYTHING this band has put out can even touch the Misfits? AFI is a parody of a punk band, they don't have the balls or attitude to ever come close to the misfits. I'd like to see Glen get his hands on these panty-waists and choke them to death for stealing his gimmick. Ultra-super-mega-weak!

P.S...anyone who refers to this band as being "hardcore" gets pimp-slapped by john holmes.

Davey's side project is supposed to very electronica-based, not pop-. Sorry GV

One side project I'm really looking forward to next year is Head Automatica. That should be interesting.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

Yeah, halloween was supposed ot end the album.

And the weakest track here is definetly "the boy who destroyed the world". The Halloween cover is awesome.

*sigh* this and Blacksails in the sunset is *it* for AFI. There 2 master works before they decided to over evolve. Oh well, heres to hoping that the follow up to sing the sorrow is a regression to there better stuff. With Daveys side project, he might getall that poppy bullshit out of his system.

Anyway, this EP is pretty decent, definitely better than their newer stuff.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

I've read before that the tracklisting they had in mind when this was made had Halloween at the end of the CD. that would kind of explain the sounds at the end.

-Kerry

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

The amount of make up Davey wears doesn't matter. He could have an endorsement deal from fucking Revlon & this ep would still be great.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

While still a very good song, Totalimmortal has been embraced by the mainstream (Offspring cover). I would much rather see "The boy who destroyed the world" Live. It still gives me goosebumps...oh yeah, and I have this on yummy orange vinyl. :-)

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

Davey wears more make-up than all the pop stars combined.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

i agree, one of their best albums ever... thank god they didn't follow the way of the "a fire inside ep." i wasn't diggin 3 1/2
after this album is where it all started to go crappy, i thought their music adopted more of their poppy sound and lost the "metal" sound that they once had... i'll miss that Shut your mouth and Black Sails era